First MSC containers arrive at Duqm from Europe

Muscat: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and the Port of Duqm on Monday announced the arrival of the first MSC containers at the growing transportation hub.
The containers were carried by the MSC Laurence from Antwerp to Jebel Ali, picked up by an Oman Container Line feeder service, and discharged at the Port of Duqm on August 5.
The cargo includes equipment for Serka Taahhut Insaat—the construction unit of the Turkish conglomerate Adali Holding—and will be used to help develop the infrastructure of the commercial quay.
“MSC is amongst the first shipping lines to put Port of Duqm in its register as an end destination and we expect many other lines to follow soon. Clients active in and around the Duqm area will now have many more options to ship their containerized cargoes in and out of the port to destinations all over the globe,” said Reggy Vermeulen, chief executive officer of the Port of Duqm.
“This will enhance the competitiveness of the port and we expect volumes traded through Duqm to grow substantially over time.”
“The Duqm Special Economic Zone and Port represent one of the largest development projects in the region. The port has the potential to attract significant amounts of project cargo, supporting trade development in Oman, in particular in the government initiatives in the Al Wusta Governorate in Oman,” said Tariq Khattak, MSC’s local representative in Oman.
“MSC already operates services calling at the Omani ports of Salalah and Sohar and we are delighted to complement our presence in the country by contributing to the growth of the Port of Duqm,” added Tariq Khattak.